DOMAINE DE CHEVALIER Blanc Grand Cru de Graves, Pessac-Leognan 2021 Bottle

Description

The 2021 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc has garnered outstanding praise, highlighted by 98 points from James Suckling, who describes its complex nose featuring fine oak spices, chalk, meringue, and intense aromas of lemons and honeyed gooseberries. The palate is harmonious and medium- to full-bodied, showcasing a delicious saline touch and a persistent, elegant finish. Vinous awarded it 96 points, noting its dense, powerful character, emphasising its textural intensity and oak influence. Decanter rated it 95 points for its rich honeyed apple and apricot aromas, alongside creamy lemon and pear flavours. The Wine Advocate gave it 94+ points, highlighting its deep bouquet and generous palate, indicating that this exceptional wine will age beautifully until 2040, making it a standout choice for collectors.

*****

Domaine de Chevalier Blanc is a prestigious winery located in the Pessac-Léognan region of Bordeaux, classified as a Grand Cru Classé de Graves. Renowned for producing exceptional white wines, the estate spans approximately 30 hectares and is primarily planted with Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon grapes, with a smaller percentage of Sauvignon Gris.

Domaine de Chevalier Blanc is celebrated for its elegant, vibrant, and complex wines that reflect the unique terroir of the Graves, characterised by gravelly soils and a temperate climate. The winemaking process involves careful hand-harvesting, fermentation in oak barrels, and a significant period of ageing, allowing the wines to develop rich fruit flavours, floral notes, and a refreshing acidity. With consistent praise from critics, Domaine de Chevalier Blanc is highly regarded among collectors and wine enthusiasts, offering a refined and memorable expression of white Bordeaux.

JAMES SUCKLING 98 points
A serious nose with great depth and complexity here. Fine oak spices, chalk, meringue, lanolin and a twist of praline/pistachio to the intense lemons, honeyed gooseberries and mineral. Extremely harmonious with a deliciously saline touch to the center palate. Medium- to full-bodied, with a persistent but elegant and subtle finish that lasts almost a minute. 70% sauvignon blanc and 30% semillon. Already a joy to taste and drink, but will hold well over the next 15 years at least. Drink or hold.

VINOUS 96 points
The 2021 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc is a dense, powerful dry white. Readers will have to be patient, as the 2021 is going to need quite a bit of time to be at its best. Today, the wine's textural intensity and some oak are front and center. The 2021 is a Blanc of substance and real character. I can't wait to see how it ages. - Antonio Galloni

DECANTER 95 points
Tasted by: Georgina Hindle
(at Bordeaux, 01 Apr 2022)
Part of Pessac & Graves 2021 in bottle: Overview plus top-scoring wines
Drinking Window: 2024 - 2035
A rich honeyed apple and apricot nose with soft white blossom notes. So lifted and expressive on the palate, creamy lemon, pear, red apple and apricot. Gently round, this has a nice delicacy but also good weight - a refined palate with a soft creaminess. Easy to drink and enjoy with excellent structure and density for the vintage, you get enough acidity and texture to give a full mouthfeel without anything being too much or over the top but still with enough flavour that it's interesting and compelling. A top buy.

THE WINE ADVOCATE 94+ points
Reviewed by: Yohan Castaing
Drink Date: 2023 - 2040
The 2021 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc is a blend of 70% Sauvignon and 30% Sémillon that matured for 18 months in barrels, of which 35% were new. Delivering a deep, complex bouquet that features aromas of spices, white pepper, elderflower, citrus oil and wet stones, it's full-bodied, round and generous, with a satiny attack that segues into a fleshy, vibrant palate, concluding with a pure and precise finish.
Published: Feb 08, 2024